Shelby videographer, Morganton director, celebrate premiere of feature film
In early 2020, Brigham McNeely, a Morganton-area writer and director, was ready to start production on his third feature film.
"We were going to make a Christmas movie. But then COVID hit and things got put on the shelf. I had this money so I said I’m making a movie. We are not letting this go to waste," said McNeely on Wednesday.
In April, McNeely, with the help of Darin Holiday, owner of Electric Films in Shelby, spent the better part of a month in the woods around Morganton and Hickory shooting what would become "Airborne," which follows a man trying to find his place in a world ravaged by a deadly virus.
“We shot it over I think 20 days in total. It was really high paced,” said Holiday. “It was out kind of in a remote area. A lot of it was what we call ‘run and gun.’ It kind of has a documentary feel in some parts. And that is on purpose, it gives a more raw feel to the movie."
Over the course of the movie, the main character meets a group of Christian survivors who are locked in a conflict with a group of violent nihilists.
McNeely and Holiday both say they are Christian, and while the movie does include a message of their faith, they said the point of the movie is not to preach to moviegoers.
"This movie is about how to have hope and push forward in uncharted territory like we have now," said McNeely. "We also lean on the other end of the pendulum, why would God allow this? There are questions that are hard to rationalize for people in general. Those are real questions, even if you’re not a Christian."
"Airborne" is the third movie Holiday has helped McNeely shoot. He previously served as a director of photography for a movie about a bank heist, which was shot in Casar, and a drama about a young man dealing with loss.
“We really take the script and take it down visually. The director tells us what the film should look like, what it should feel like and we bring it to life," said Holiday. “It can be a very stressful environment to shoot, especially on a limited budget and with a high-paced, short schedule. You kind of go into battle together but when it is over you know you’ve shot the full script, and there is a real sense of accomplishment.”
McNeely said when it was time to start work on "Airborne," it just made sense to bring Holiday back on.
"We have just cultivated such a great relationship over the years, and I have tried to stick with the same team. If something is working, there’s no need to change it. And something about Darin is, if you hire him, he’s going to get it right," he said.
"Airborne" will get a limited theatrical release at AMC theaters in the southeastern United States in February.
In Shelby, the movie will be shown at the AMC theater at Cleveland Mall on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Tickets are on sale now.
Dustin George can be reached at 704-669-3337 or Dustin.George@ShelbyStar.com.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby videographer, Morganton director, celebrate premiere of new film
